Let me clear the air for anyone who is confused about my beliefs. I am a Christian and a conservative Republican with a bit of Libertarian in me, and I put Alaska and America first. That does not mean whatever label the liberal media or the far-right fringe activists want to slap on me. It means a set of principles that most folks I know still hold, even if politics in Juneau or Washington has forgotten them.
First, America should never rely on foreign governments for energy, for critical supplies, or for our national defense. We are strongest when we drill, mine, build, produce, and protect what we need here at home. Alaska and the Arctic hold many of those critical supplies and the oil and minerals our country needs.
Second, a nation cannot help others if it cannot take care of itself. America must put its own people first. That is not isolationism, it is common sense.
Third, we must have a strong military, but we should stay out of endless foreign conflicts. Our men and women in uniform are not a bargaining chip for global politics and America is not the world’s bank account. Alaska is home to six military bases and the highest per capita number of military veterans in the country.
Fourth, no foreign aid should go out the door until every veteran here at home is supported. We owe them care before we send one more dollar overseas.
Fifth, legal immigration makes this country stronger. But if your first act in America is breaking our laws, you cannot claim to respect the values that make this nation worth joining.
Sixth, people have the freedom to make personal choices in their own lives. I may not agree with every choice someone makes, but it is not my job to sit in judgment of what happens in their own home. Government should stay out of our bedrooms and our private lives.
Seventh, men are men and women are women. Biology is not a political opinion. Bathrooms, sports, and privacy should reflect that reality.
Eighth, schools exist to teach reading, writing, math, science, civics, and history. They are not a venue for political indoctrination. Children should not be pushed toward gender confusion or any ideology by adults who should know better. It is long past time we let teachers teach instead of tying their hands with experimental liberal curricula that fail more often than they succeed.
Ninth, freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion. The “wall between Church and state was to protect the Church, not the state. It was to prevent the state from dictating our religion. Nevertheless, our nation was shaped by foundational Christian principles and by the belief in moral truth that comes from those principles.
Tenth, I believe in the sanctity of life. Life begins at conception and every child is a gift from God. A society that does not protect its most vulnerable cannot claim to stand for justice or compassion.
Eleventh, guns are not the problem. People are. The Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms.
I am a conservative because I believe in faith, family, freedom, and personal responsibility. Government should defend our rights, secure our borders, protect our freedoms, support our veterans, and then get out of the way. America is strongest when Americans take care of America first, when families are supported, and when children are taught the truth instead of political propaganda.
I love Alaska and this country, and I believe both are worth fighting for.
